Idiom
go the whole nine yards
Meanings
To do something to the fullest extent; to do everything possible.
To include all possible extras or details when providing something.
Definition
To do everything possible or go to the maximum extent to achieve or provide something.
“Go the whole nine yards” means to do something completely and with full effort. It often suggests not holding back and including every detail or extra. People use it for work, celebrations, or any situation where someone goes all out.
Examples
- For her birthday, we went the whole nine yards with a big dinner and a surprise party.
- If you’re going to apply, go the whole nine yards and tailor your resume to the job.
- They went the whole nine yards on the renovation and replaced everything.
- He went the whole nine yards to help the new hire feel welcome.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes change the number (e.g., “go the whole ten yards”), but the fixed expression is “go the whole nine yards.”
More at C1 level
- Monday morning quarterback A "Monday morning quarterback" is someone who criticizes or judges a decision after the outcome is …
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- come hell or high water Used to emphasize that you will do something no matter what difficulties happen.
- brass monkeys “Brass monkeys” is used in the phrase “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey,” meaning…
- get down to brass tacks To get down to brass tacks means to start talking about the most important, practical details of so…
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
- lost the plot To become confused or behave in a way that no longer makes sense.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready for action.